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Kobe Bryant: Dwight Howard will 'have a great year'

HOUSTON — In a perfect NBA world, this would have been the night that Kobe Bryant returned. The Los Angeles Lakers star, who is still recovering from his Achilles tendon tear suffered in April, would have

HOUSTON — In a perfect NBA world, this would have been the night that Kobe Bryant returned.

The Los Angeles Lakers star who is still recovering from his Achilles tendon tear suffered in April would have shocked the basketball world by facing off against his former teammate in Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard, and all the hype surrounding this non-reunion game that was mostly irrelevant would have been unexpectedly justified in the end. But Bryant not only didn't return on Thursday night at the Toyota Center, he took this boring blueprint one step further by — yawn — being diplomatic while discussing Howard.

The more time has passed after Howard's July 5 decision to sign with Houston, the more the dirty laundry that was mostly kept quiet about their ill-fated season together in Laker Land is aired out for all to see and hear by way of the media. Yet Bryant, whose presence and personality played such a big part in Howard's decision not to return, wasn't about to continue that trend.

"I think he'll have a great year," Bryant said of Howard. "He's always very determined to be more of an offensive player. Here in Houston he'll have the opportunity to do that. He always wanted to compete with some of the all-time greats, the Chamberlains and Shaqs and Olajuwons and so forth. This year should be the year where he starts putting up those kind of numbers — 25, 26 (points per game), stuff like that."

As for Bryant's status, he said he still has no timetable for a return. While he is running at full speed, he has yet to progress to making lateral cuts.

"I don't have a timetable; let's start there," Bryant said. "I've been pushing pretty hard, man. I'll go and do some more conditioning after I get done talking to you guys.

"The hardest thing is the conditioning and getting back and playing at a high level and being able to run and play at a high level for 48 minutes. (It) is tough, man. You really have to push yourself conditioning wise to get in shape ... get down to feeling really comfortable, feeling strong, working through the fatigue first of running straight forward. Once the endurance is there you start doing more lateral things."

Bryant provided a few lighter moments, specifically when asked about whether he had spoken with Howard since he left. When Howard was in Los Angeles on Monday to face the Clippers, he said the two had not spoken.

"We speak every day," Bryant said sarcastically.

Howard's return to face the Lakers for the first time inside the Staples Center won't come until Feb. 19, when Bryant — and the Laker Nation that so adores him — hopes he'll be taking part.

"Hopefully (I'll play in that game)," Bryant said. "I hope so, barring any major setbacks."

Howard developed his rebounding skill at an early age, averaging a double-double as a 19-year-old rookie. He led the NBA in rebounds per game four times in his final five seasons with the Magic.
Eric Gay, AP

Before being beset by injuries in recent seasons, Howard was one of the most reliable big men in the NBA. He played all 82 games in each of his first four seasons and only missed seven in his first seven combined.
Paul Connors, AP

Shaquille O'Neal didn't shown much respect to Howard as a player and still doesn't as an analyst. Both were No. 1 picks by the Magic who then went to the Lakers, both centers known for their strength and athleticism, both Superman enthusiasts.
Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports

The Magic brought back Hedo Turkoglu in 2011 with hopes of keeping Howard, but they never quite found the same page they had been on during their five seasons together from 2004 through 2009.
Chuck Burton, AP

After months of speculation, the Magic dealt Howard to the Lakers in a four-team August 2012 trade. The Lakers gave up center Andrew Bynum for him, while the Magic received a package of players including former 76ers center Nikola Vucevic and Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

Howard signed with the Rockets in the 2013 offseason after rejecting the Lakers and several other suitors. One reason was James Harden, the promising shooting guard whom he pairs so well with.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports